Through Brandon's Eyes



I think we were all amazed at the size of this painting in real life




This persepective makes the podium look so small



Ezra T. Benson ( the boys great-great-great grandfather)



One of my favorites Brandon took





A cool perspective of the Church Office Building





Doors on the SLC Temple




He must have something about looking up




Andrew never has batteries in his camera due to his numerous self portraits and endless reviewing of his pictures. He ended up with my camera for most of the day.




An appropriate picture of Zachary, his hands were in every fountain or body of water he could find.



John Taylors watch. brandon was captivated by all of the actual artifacts he has read about over the years.

On an old SLC plot map we found where Ezra T. Benson's home was, so Brandon wanted to drive past and see what was stading there now. This is the place out my window.

Through Andrew's Eyes

I think they all had a picture of the podium in real life

Many of Andrew's pictures of pictures had closeups of the weaponry

Andrew had many shots of lights, floors, tour guides....

This was Andrew's best composed picture

Water

Door handles on SLC Temple

I know it wasn't intentional, but I liked the subtle sun rays

A replica of the Angel Moroni which is placed on top of the Temples. We have been anticipating the day when they place the Angel Moroni on our Temple.

Fall Break: Salt Lake City

The only time the boys have been to Salt Lake City was four years ago when we driving through to a family reunion in Bear Lake. They really didn't have much reccollection of anything there, so after dropping Brian off at the airport we spent the day in Salt Lake. Laurel met us for lunch and then took us to the top of the Church Administration Building. I am always suprised at what the boys find picture worthy as I flip through their photos, so I decided to let their pictures do the talking of what we saw. There were MANY self portraits and sky shots, but some were very well taken photos. The following three posts are their interpretations of what we saw.

Fall Break: Park City

A few days were spent in the cooler air of Park City. One day we hiked to the top of the bobsled run at the Olympic Park. The track wasn't yet iced over, so we could see what the track looks like underneath. The steepness of the banks in real life were incredible. I'd be dead by the first turn. We also toured through the Olympic Musuem at the bottom of the hill. The boys are in the stage of being facinated by the magic of the Olympic's- the pagentry, the ability to master such incredible feats, the variety of sports that are played, they enjoyed seeing the medals up close, actual uniforms and eqipment used.



Trying to pick up the curling stone- heavier than he thought.




I'd always wondered what kind of team the boys could compete in together...we found it...the four man bobsled.




Trying out the skeleton. Not for the faint of heart.





View from the top of the Bobsled hill.



One of my favorite places at the Farmhouse. The table. Whether sitting here watching the sunset over the hills, watching the morning sun rays hit the valley floor early in the morning, listening to your boys banter back and forth, or playing games, talking with Brian in the stillness of the night.



Fall Break: Jerusalem Set

We were able to tour the Jerusalem Set the church has created to film the new stories from the New Testament. We could take pictures, the only caveat:  we couldn't post any of them. I was amazed at the size of the set. It was much smaller than I anticipated- I was assuming a sprawling set. You could tell much thought and preparation had gone into the design. It toook us a good hour to walk through it all. Laurel and Dawn, Brian's sisters, met us there. Laurel had been down on the set a few times and had watched some of the shooting and was able to help us see where certain segments had been filmed. Looking at the pictures we have and then seeing the actual video makes you realize the magic that comes from the creative genius behind the lens and in the editing room! I will say the area where the trial and beating of the Savior took place, to me had a tangibly different feel to it. Although just another area on the tour, the realization of what was depicted there became a little more life like. A fun expereince for us! Thanks for the invite Laurel.

Fall Break: Horseshoe Bend

A short hike off the highway near Page, AZ  and you find this incredible view.



Brandon was daring enough to get close, the others would have nothing to do with it, which truthfully made my heart not beat as fast. It was a very.long.way.down. There was no sound. Just footsteps on the gravel and the wind. Andrew and Zachary broke the silence on more than a few occasions- a few people in blissful meditation didn't seem pleased.





They all found the rock facinating and each one took multiple pictures of the shale like rock.




You can see Brandon in the distance in the orange shirt, Matthew is the one taking this picture and Andrew is behind him.



FOUR



His choice for dinner: grilled pizza (it has become one of our go to meals since we don't have to heat the house up)lemonade and grapes.




His favorite gift this year was Sidley, from Cars2.





Our neighbors the Nelsons came over for cake and ice cream. Their dog, Beezy, has become Zach's favorite companion.

Four years old and full of personality and loveability. Zach started preschool with Miss Buffie this fall. We at least added one more place to the very small number of places he will go without me. Everything with him is small steps! He prefers to stay in his pajamas than get dressed. He loves to read books, read books, and read books. He still lvoes to snuggle as close to you as possible.



Campout



Mesmerized by something....




...watching army men they found in the ground melt. Chalk that up to another facet I don't understand about boys.



Matthew enjoying the rope swing

We hiked along the river bottom for a ways-- we hoped it would take us right to the fish hatchery, but after a little off roading we made it up to the hatchery.

I had never been to a hatchery, not sure if Brian has, but it was quite amazing to see so many thousands and thousands of fish



Trying to catch rain drops




Avoidance at all costs to a kiss from his mom. He fought a good fight...someday he'll learn moms never give up!

We had a a fun time with members of our ward. Late night laughing around the campfire, delicious food and a fun time with the six of us. The campout came at the end of a very long two weeks. It was a needed break from Gilbert and the heat for many. We had spent the previous two weeks knee deep in a move which took more individuals than is typical and a sudden death which made us realize we know nothing about funeral arrangements. A gentelman in our ward died from a sudden heart attack, he was single, estranged from his family when he joined the church and had no money to pay for a funeral. One of the counselors in our RS Presdiency had dealt with numerous funerals, none of the rest of us had any experience in this matter. She took the brunt of the arrangements. As the week wore on family was found and notified and wanted to be part of the services. Our wise Stake President allowed the services to be Skyped back east to his family realizing there was more good to come out of this than not allowing it. We found out he had served in the military so we were able to tap into VA Benefits and a bureal plot in the VA Cemetary. Finally all these small pieces fell into place though it took almost two weeks.

Amid all this craziness, my dear fiend Laurel calls and says Tom and I are coming to Phoenix! I was able to spend one morning with her...not long enough at all. But grateful for friendships that stay the passage of time.